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BURN THE FAT
Fat Burning Tips E-zine
Brought to you by Tom Venuto &
http://www.burnthefat.com
=============================================
Dear friend,
Today, instead of replying to one of the thousands
of fat loss questions I receive every week, I felt not
only compelled, but morally obligated to comment (rant)
on what I REALLY think about the "fat blocker" drug Xenical
going over the counter (OTC) (and on diet drugs in general)
After reading this, please feel welcome to comment,
discusss or speak your mind on the subject at
http://www.BurnTheFatBlog.Com
According to headlines this week, Xenial (orlistat)
may become the first over the counter diet pill.
Xenical is currently a prescription only drug
approved by the FDA for weight loss, which works
by blunting fat absorption by blocking the
digestive enzyme lipase.
The prescription version of the fat-blocking pill
Xenical made by Roche was originally approved in 1999.
A year ago, GlaxoSmithKline bought the United States
rights to Xenical from Roche
On January 24th, Federal health advisors voted 11-3
to recommend approval of over-the-counter sales of a
(lower dose) version of Xenical, after an all day hearing.
GlaxosmithKline is hoping before the year is out, this
litte blue fat-blocking pill will be available at your
local drugstore without a prescription.
If the FDA gives final approval, which could take months,
the over the counter version will be called, Alli
(pronounced like "ally")
What is Xenical (Alli), and what does it do?
Typically, weight loss drugs are designed to curb your
appetite. Xenical does something totally different:
It prevents some of the fat you eat from being absorbed
- it simply passes through your digestive system.
In case you're wondering, yes, there are potentially
uncomfortable and even embarrasing gastro-intestinal
side effects: oily discharge, leaking, urgency, flatulence,
oily spotting, liquid stools, incontinence...
Oh, forget the political correctness... it can make you
sh** your pants! (still enthused about this "wonder pill?")
An appetite suppressant or a thermogenic is not a long
term solution to obesity either, but at least they might
have some type of value under certain circumstances when
the cost to risk benefit is acceptable.
Xenical on the other hand? This drug is just plain stupid
and so is the idea of making it OTC.
The truth is, if you are really thinking long term, and
particularly if you are not moribidly obese, ill, and in
need of means of last resort, then...
TAKING ANY PILL TO LOSE WEIGHT IS DOWN RIGHT STUPID.
Drugs do not "cure" diseases. Drugs do not heal. Drugs hide.
Just because you sweep the dirt underneath your carpet doesn't
mean your home isn't still filthy.
A drug can only temporarily relieve symptoms. Key word:
temporarily.
Did you ever consider for a moment that body fat is a symptom?
A symptom of inactivity.
A symptom of suboptimal nutrition.
A symptom of accumulated poor lifestyle choices.
Taking drugs is like clipping the leaves off weeds to try
to keep weeds out of your garden, but the only way to keep
the weeds out of your garden is to PULL THEM OUT BY THE ROOTS!
Plus, every drug - including over the counter drugs - has side
effects - sometimes extremely serious side effects. That doesn't
mean no one should ever take any drugs. It means you must consider
the risk to benefit ratio of any drugs you take before making
a decision.
When you combine a supportive healthy nutrition program that
FEEDS and maintains muscle, consisting of natural, unprocessed
foods, with a lifelong exercise program that BURNS FAT, then
you have yourself a long term health solution. This is the
only true way to rip the weeds of obesity out by the roots.
Making this drug over the counter is a big mistake.
Why?
Well, first of all, if it goes OTC, it may encourage
people to start becoming fat phobic again.
Didn't we go through an entire decade of low fat diets
already... and then go through another decade of low
carb diets?
Are we now going to go through another fat phobia phase?
A balance between macronutrients is ideal, not removal
of an entire food group, whether that is fat or carbs or
whatever. Think BALANCE!
Dietary fat doesn't make you fat, and most people are
woefully lacking in good, healthy essential fats like
those found in fish, fish oil and flax. Using fat blockers
will probably mean less absorption of the good fatty
acids necessary for good health.
Second, this drug also has great potential for un-policed
misuse and abuse if it goes over the counter.
Jim Foster of the excellent www.diet-blog.com website says,
"This will not help those who already have problems with
laxative abuse. A number of groups are concerned it will
be used as medicated bulimia - encouraging binge-eating
in young people."
In his blog article, 'Xenical Over the Counter: Big Mistake?'
Foster continues..
"On the MSNBC site, there is an overwhelming vote of
confidence for the drug. Of over 132,000 votes 59% say
they will try it because "...I can't lose those last 10
pounds." Of course, these results are very skewed as the
people reading the article are people with an interest
in the drug.Even so, these results are concerning. I strongly
believe that a drug such as this must be prescribed by a
physician. This move will simply enforce the quick-fix
mentality. Xenical is already guilty of a series of
aggravating ads in Canada - attempting to associate
glamour with the drug."
Third, Xenical, and Alli, if approved, may encourage
people to eat more fatty, sugary refined junk food instead
of less because they may be thinking that part of it won't
even be absorbed.
Fourth, another problem is that fat soluble vitamin intake
will go right out the you know what, along with the fat.
Doctors usually recommend a multi vitamin supplement to
patients taking Xenical for this reason.
You know what I think? I think this is drug company greed,
plain and simple, pandering straight to the "something
for nothing" attitude that pervades our society today.
It's also a desperate attempt to revive a lousy loser drug
that many people have taken a pass on refills due to it's
undesirable side effects and long term ineffectiveness.
If a doctor told you that you had diabetes or high blood
pressure or high cholesterol... or even that you were
suffering from depression, what would your response be?
Im not sure about you, but most people, especially
Americans, would instantly say, 'OK what drug should
I take?" and the physician would be quick to prescribe it.
Many physicians and health professionals consider obesity to
be biggest disease in the world, and they say that it should
be treated like one.
The truth is that obesity is one of the biggest businesses
in the world and is being treated like one!
Weight loss is potentially the biggest market on Earth
for drug sales, and the stakes couldn't be higher.
The Glaxo company estimated that 5 to 6 million Americans
a year would buy the drug if offered over the counter. Those
numbers could mean at least $1.5 billion a year in retail sales.
Glaxo also says that Alli would cost $12 to $25 a week.
Sounds like a hundred bucks a month down the toilet to me
(literally!)
But what about the research? Clinical trials showed that
patients taking xenical lost on average 5.3 to 6.2 pounds
more than weight than the group taking a placebo.
In 6 month clinical trials for the proposed over the counter
drug, patients on Alli lost 4 to 5 pounds more than the
group taking a placebo
What do I think about that?
Maybe the subjects ate less fat due to the fear that
eating fat = leaking stools. (in fact, on one website,
a patient answering a survey said, "The drug forced me to
avoid fatty foods if I wanted to keep my underwear clean.
I lost a lot of weight". Nice)
maybe some of the subjects in the studies felt that it
wasnt working so they dropped out. Diet drug studies have
very high drop out rates, so the people remaining
were the ones who got the best results.
Maybe if the control group and the placebo group were
put on the same caloric intake, then the group taking
xenical lost more weight simply because fewer dietary
fat calories were absorbed!
Do you think if you weren't in a controlled study
environment where your food intake was monitored, you
would really control your intake, or would you be more
likely to eat a bunch of greasy junk because you were
thinking your body wouldnt absorb it?
Translation: the study results are biased, skewed
and misleading
THE BOTTOM LINE???
My advice to all our fine medical doctors out there:
start prescribing exercise and sensible eating first,
and drugs only as means of last resort.
My advice to the legislators and government agencies
involved: You are making a big mistake making this
drug over the counter. Keep it by prescription only,
so at least the doctors can supervise and "police"
it's use and it doesn't get abused by teenagers
and people with just 10-30 pounds to lose who really
dont need it.
My advice to everyone who wants to get healthier
and leaner:
"Burn The Fat and Feed The Muscle". Make that Your MANTRA!
You gotta exercise (BURN) and you gotta eat (FEED). If
you do these two things right then even if the pharmaceutical
giants come out with a pill that really is safe and actually
works, you can save your money because YOU won't need it!
Train hard, eat right and expect success,
Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS
Fat Loss Coach
Fat Burning Tips E-zine
Brought to you by Tom Venuto &
http://www.burnthefat.com
=============================================
Dear friend,
Today, instead of replying to one of the thousands
of fat loss questions I receive every week, I felt not
only compelled, but morally obligated to comment (rant)
on what I REALLY think about the "fat blocker" drug Xenical
going over the counter (OTC) (and on diet drugs in general)
After reading this, please feel welcome to comment,
discusss or speak your mind on the subject at
http://www.BurnTheFatBlog.Com
According to headlines this week, Xenial (orlistat)
may become the first over the counter diet pill.
Xenical is currently a prescription only drug
approved by the FDA for weight loss, which works
by blunting fat absorption by blocking the
digestive enzyme lipase.
The prescription version of the fat-blocking pill
Xenical made by Roche was originally approved in 1999.
A year ago, GlaxoSmithKline bought the United States
rights to Xenical from Roche
On January 24th, Federal health advisors voted 11-3
to recommend approval of over-the-counter sales of a
(lower dose) version of Xenical, after an all day hearing.
GlaxosmithKline is hoping before the year is out, this
litte blue fat-blocking pill will be available at your
local drugstore without a prescription.
If the FDA gives final approval, which could take months,
the over the counter version will be called, Alli
(pronounced like "ally")
What is Xenical (Alli), and what does it do?
Typically, weight loss drugs are designed to curb your
appetite. Xenical does something totally different:
It prevents some of the fat you eat from being absorbed
- it simply passes through your digestive system.
In case you're wondering, yes, there are potentially
uncomfortable and even embarrasing gastro-intestinal
side effects: oily discharge, leaking, urgency, flatulence,
oily spotting, liquid stools, incontinence...
Oh, forget the political correctness... it can make you
sh** your pants! (still enthused about this "wonder pill?")
An appetite suppressant or a thermogenic is not a long
term solution to obesity either, but at least they might
have some type of value under certain circumstances when
the cost to risk benefit is acceptable.
Xenical on the other hand? This drug is just plain stupid
and so is the idea of making it OTC.
The truth is, if you are really thinking long term, and
particularly if you are not moribidly obese, ill, and in
need of means of last resort, then...
TAKING ANY PILL TO LOSE WEIGHT IS DOWN RIGHT STUPID.
Drugs do not "cure" diseases. Drugs do not heal. Drugs hide.
Just because you sweep the dirt underneath your carpet doesn't
mean your home isn't still filthy.
A drug can only temporarily relieve symptoms. Key word:
temporarily.
Did you ever consider for a moment that body fat is a symptom?
A symptom of inactivity.
A symptom of suboptimal nutrition.
A symptom of accumulated poor lifestyle choices.
Taking drugs is like clipping the leaves off weeds to try
to keep weeds out of your garden, but the only way to keep
the weeds out of your garden is to PULL THEM OUT BY THE ROOTS!
Plus, every drug - including over the counter drugs - has side
effects - sometimes extremely serious side effects. That doesn't
mean no one should ever take any drugs. It means you must consider
the risk to benefit ratio of any drugs you take before making
a decision.
When you combine a supportive healthy nutrition program that
FEEDS and maintains muscle, consisting of natural, unprocessed
foods, with a lifelong exercise program that BURNS FAT, then
you have yourself a long term health solution. This is the
only true way to rip the weeds of obesity out by the roots.
Making this drug over the counter is a big mistake.
Why?
Well, first of all, if it goes OTC, it may encourage
people to start becoming fat phobic again.
Didn't we go through an entire decade of low fat diets
already... and then go through another decade of low
carb diets?
Are we now going to go through another fat phobia phase?
A balance between macronutrients is ideal, not removal
of an entire food group, whether that is fat or carbs or
whatever. Think BALANCE!
Dietary fat doesn't make you fat, and most people are
woefully lacking in good, healthy essential fats like
those found in fish, fish oil and flax. Using fat blockers
will probably mean less absorption of the good fatty
acids necessary for good health.
Second, this drug also has great potential for un-policed
misuse and abuse if it goes over the counter.
Jim Foster of the excellent www.diet-blog.com website says,
"This will not help those who already have problems with
laxative abuse. A number of groups are concerned it will
be used as medicated bulimia - encouraging binge-eating
in young people."
In his blog article, 'Xenical Over the Counter: Big Mistake?'
Foster continues..
"On the MSNBC site, there is an overwhelming vote of
confidence for the drug. Of over 132,000 votes 59% say
they will try it because "...I can't lose those last 10
pounds." Of course, these results are very skewed as the
people reading the article are people with an interest
in the drug.Even so, these results are concerning. I strongly
believe that a drug such as this must be prescribed by a
physician. This move will simply enforce the quick-fix
mentality. Xenical is already guilty of a series of
aggravating ads in Canada - attempting to associate
glamour with the drug."
Third, Xenical, and Alli, if approved, may encourage
people to eat more fatty, sugary refined junk food instead
of less because they may be thinking that part of it won't
even be absorbed.
Fourth, another problem is that fat soluble vitamin intake
will go right out the you know what, along with the fat.
Doctors usually recommend a multi vitamin supplement to
patients taking Xenical for this reason.
You know what I think? I think this is drug company greed,
plain and simple, pandering straight to the "something
for nothing" attitude that pervades our society today.
It's also a desperate attempt to revive a lousy loser drug
that many people have taken a pass on refills due to it's
undesirable side effects and long term ineffectiveness.
If a doctor told you that you had diabetes or high blood
pressure or high cholesterol... or even that you were
suffering from depression, what would your response be?
Im not sure about you, but most people, especially
Americans, would instantly say, 'OK what drug should
I take?" and the physician would be quick to prescribe it.
Many physicians and health professionals consider obesity to
be biggest disease in the world, and they say that it should
be treated like one.
The truth is that obesity is one of the biggest businesses
in the world and is being treated like one!
Weight loss is potentially the biggest market on Earth
for drug sales, and the stakes couldn't be higher.
The Glaxo company estimated that 5 to 6 million Americans
a year would buy the drug if offered over the counter. Those
numbers could mean at least $1.5 billion a year in retail sales.
Glaxo also says that Alli would cost $12 to $25 a week.
Sounds like a hundred bucks a month down the toilet to me
(literally!)
But what about the research? Clinical trials showed that
patients taking xenical lost on average 5.3 to 6.2 pounds
more than weight than the group taking a placebo.
In 6 month clinical trials for the proposed over the counter
drug, patients on Alli lost 4 to 5 pounds more than the
group taking a placebo
What do I think about that?
Maybe the subjects ate less fat due to the fear that
eating fat = leaking stools. (in fact, on one website,
a patient answering a survey said, "The drug forced me to
avoid fatty foods if I wanted to keep my underwear clean.
I lost a lot of weight". Nice)
maybe some of the subjects in the studies felt that it
wasnt working so they dropped out. Diet drug studies have
very high drop out rates, so the people remaining
were the ones who got the best results.
Maybe if the control group and the placebo group were
put on the same caloric intake, then the group taking
xenical lost more weight simply because fewer dietary
fat calories were absorbed!
Do you think if you weren't in a controlled study
environment where your food intake was monitored, you
would really control your intake, or would you be more
likely to eat a bunch of greasy junk because you were
thinking your body wouldnt absorb it?
Translation: the study results are biased, skewed
and misleading
THE BOTTOM LINE???
My advice to all our fine medical doctors out there:
start prescribing exercise and sensible eating first,
and drugs only as means of last resort.
My advice to the legislators and government agencies
involved: You are making a big mistake making this
drug over the counter. Keep it by prescription only,
so at least the doctors can supervise and "police"
it's use and it doesn't get abused by teenagers
and people with just 10-30 pounds to lose who really
dont need it.
My advice to everyone who wants to get healthier
and leaner:
"Burn The Fat and Feed The Muscle". Make that Your MANTRA!
You gotta exercise (BURN) and you gotta eat (FEED). If
you do these two things right then even if the pharmaceutical
giants come out with a pill that really is safe and actually
works, you can save your money because YOU won't need it!
Train hard, eat right and expect success,
Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS
Fat Loss Coach
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